Operation Economic Fury: US Launches Financial Equivalent of Bombing Iran

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a news briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House, on April 15, 2026. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty ImagesU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on April 15 that the United States plans to target Iran economically with the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign.“Yesterday, we announced Operation Economic Fury. … And the Iranians should know that this is going to be the financial equivalent of what we saw in the kinetic activities,” Bessent told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday, referring to the U.S. and Israeli campaign of airstrikes against Iran.